"Seniors, let's talk it out!"

There's too much effort devoted to the patient-doctor relationship.  Seemingly, old age is a topic to remain secret, discussed in hush-hush tones only.  But seniors, let's talk it out, so as to benefit from the dialogue.

Since coming to El Paso, I've contacted some politicians to make my view known about the need to share information, particularly new knowledge about skills and activities to lessen or even overcome the effects of old age upon us seniors.  To date, I let my views be known to Congressman O'Rourke, the Congressman in my district in a letter of April 22, 2013 and Hector Lopez, running for mayor of the city in a letter of May 4th.  No response from them.

Well, let me share the idea, anyway. I'm proposing that senior centers across the country offer not only meals and entertainment to senior citizens, but importantly, the opportunity to express their feelings about the effects of old age they've experienced and wish to share; and just as important, to learn of new knowledge from the journals on the topic of gerontology.  These opportunities should be granted in the senior centers in the form of a seminar on a regular basis--just like the AA meetings, but because information is to be disseminated, there should be a leader conversant with the new knowledge as presented in the journals.

Traveling throughout the country I've come to realize that the senior centers haven't really done anything at all to inform seniors of coping skills useful in their struggle against the effects of old age.

My recent own experience leads me to make this proposal.  For over a year, I had a lovely apartment in Omaha, and before that a pleasant situation in Reno.  In both these places I succumbed to a series of falls, mostly in snow and ice.  Finally, a doctor hinted to me that social security might make it more difficult to receive Medicare coverage, apparently regarding these instances as excessive.  After suffering through falls last winter and early spring, the manager of my senior center in Omaha (at St. Mary's Senior Center) and some others in the group encouraged me to think about moving out of that climate.  I had on various occasions stayed in El Paso and eventually returned here.  So, such frank discussions can make a definitive difference.  Incidentally, I've met another person who came to the realization that she h had to get out of the cold climate, which was proving detrimental to her health.

Also, I came up with a possibilitty of who might the discussion leaders be:  the corps of the Salvation Army.   Their work with the disabled and autistic has demonstrated a competency and a willingness to weal with people who confront life-demeaning problems.

Advantages of this proposal         

1.  I think discussions at the senior centers could offset the possibility that physicians might make recommendations for more costly treatments.  After all, there are likely more than one method to attack at health or mental problem.  By "comparing notes," the seminar participants might obtain information about other options.  Moreover, I don't think every physician can claim legitimately to be current in his field of specialty or know about new knowledge in fields other than his specialty.

2.  I think one of the advantages to Obama-care is to lessen his dependence upon his own physician, lest he succumb to the words of some 'soothsayer' promising cures but lacking sufficient evidence for his claims.  Having a second-opinion doesn't always end in receiving knowledge of various options, e.g., if the some cases when the doctor is an associate of the initial doctor in consultation.

3.  The idea is to get away from the notion that just by using one's own common sense the patient is in position to weigh the advice that medical people make (or, medical companies make).  And the notion that the informed individual is one who has 'read up' on some particular methodology may be insufficient.

So, "let's talk it out" in disineterested seminars at local senior centers.